Updated Nov. 23: Danny was fully acquitted; not guilty verdict on both counts.
The allegations were for a touch on the buttocks however, we inaccurately reported that he allegedly twice raped the alleged victim.
According to court, Danny Holmes, a leading engineering technician, was unable to keep his hands off of himself during a celebration evening aboard the Type 45 warship, during which he had been deployed to the Gulf.
It is said that the sailor twice “stroked” the women’s stomachs, before she laughed at him when he confronted her.
LET Holmes was serving on the warship as a weapons engineer. He denies two counts sexual assault by touching.
After an argument over a bottle wine, he claims that the woman made the accusations.
Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, heard that HMS Defender’s crew was celebrating with a meal and when the female sailor entered the mess below deck. She claims she was touched the first time.
LET Danny Holmes pictured at Bulford Military Court. Here he is facing two charges of sexual assault through touching
According to her, she told the court that they had eaten dinner before moving on to the mess at 7pm. The mess was busy when I got in through the doorway. Everyone was talking and there was music.
As I walked past the entrance, ‘LET Holmes stood at my right. The conversation lasted about a minute. I continued [into the mess]I was able to feel a hand touch my right buttock.
“It was not a grab but it wasn’t like someone was passing by.” This was intentional… It was an intentional touch…
I confronted him immediately – he was my only friend – and asked, “You touched my bum. What are you doing?”
“I recall him laughing so much that it seemed absurd that I would ever confront him with such a thing. It was inexcusable, so I said it to him. That was all.
The court was informed that LET Holmes approached the woman again the following evening.
The court was told by her: “Roundly two hours later, I was standing at the bar. LET Holmes, who had spoken to me a while before, said that “we are friends?” “We good?”
Then I stated, “Yes.” Fine, whatever.” He seemed drunk.
“There were four of us around the bar having a conversation. LET Holmes was standing behind me, and he continued to do the same things as before.
LET Holmes is alleged twice to have raped a female friend during a party aboard HMS Defender
HMS Defender is the Type 45 destroyer Royal Navy HMS Defender. It was seen arriving in Odessa (Black Sea) on June 18.
“It wasn’t the back of his hands, but it was certainly an open palm. [This one]He was moving, and I was still. It was like he had a brush. There was nobody else that could do it.
I said “You touched me again” and he responded similarly… He denied the claim and laughed at my jokes.
“When I first reported it, I was completely hysterical. The situation was terrible and I felt very angry.
According to some, the couple had never met prior to the incident.
William Peters, the prosecution, stated to the court that LET Sherlock twice ‘deliberately stroked the buttocks of the female sailor.
He concluded: “[LET Holmes]He couldn’t keep his hands shut and began touching everything. [the victim]Two occasions.
Court martial heard that the alleged victim had been upset and crying, as well as ‘in hysterics” when she claimed to have been groped by the host during the party.
According to her, she had drunk six cider cans in one evening. She also claimed that witnesses said that she was’slurring’ and’swaying.
ET Erin Eitkin, who testified at the trial was a witness, recalled that LET Holmes had called her a ‘creep.
“All of a sudden, she just walked off,” she said. [from the bar]Saying “LET Holmes is a creep.”
“She wanted to speak with me… she claimed that he touched her. She was extremely upset and was drunk… she was in total hysterics.
“She was struggling to speak, her eyes were cloudy, and she had a strong alcohol smell. She was also swaying around when she spoke.
“At one time she didn’t make any sense, and I couldn’t follow her words. It was never stated by her.
Dean Barnes, a leading Seaman, also testified at the trial.
He claimed that the woman appeared to be’seemingly distraught’. He then asked LET Holmes ‘What gives you the right?’.
LS Barnes stated that LS was reddening her face, and she began crying shortly thereafter.
“She appeared very drunk… she spoke with a slurred voice, moved all around the room, and had bloodshot eyes.
Continue the trial.